Where are they now? The 2016 England U20 World Rugby champions

Jared Wright
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In 2016, England claimed their third U20 World Rugby Championship title, defeating a strong Ireland team 45–21 in the final at the AJ Bell Stadium.

It was England’s third title in four years, with Martin Haag’s side defeating Italy, Scotland and Australia in the pool stages and South Africa in the semi-finals en route to the finale.

Ahead of the 2024 tournament, Planet Rugby takes a look at where the players who last won the competition with England are now.

England backs

15 Max Malins: The talented player showed early signs of promise and continues to deliver on it with Saracens and England. Now 26, Malins looks on track to represent his country at his first senior World Cup, off the back of winning the 2022/23 Premiership title with Saracens. The versatile back has played in 22 Tests for England and rejoined Bristol Bears in 2023, who he previously represented during the 2020/21 season.

14 Sam Aspland-Robinson: A try-scorer in the semi-final win over South Africa, Aspland-Robinson joined Leicester Tigers from Harlequins in 2018 and played 14 times for the Premiership side before being released in July 2022. He spent two seasons on loan at Coventry Rugby while with Leicester and turned out for Rosslyn Park after leaving the Tigers. He now co-owns a gym with former Tigers’ team-mate Ellis Genge.

13 Joe Marchant: Like Malins, Marchant has also gone on to represent England at the highest level. He has earned over 130 appearances for Harlequins and was an integral part of the 2020/21 Premiership-winning side. The 26-Test cap international last featured for England during the 2023 Rugby World Cup. After the tournament, he joined Top 14 club Stade Francais. In 2020, Harlequins allowed him to sign for New Zealand Super Rugby team the Blues for a season. He scored three tries in seven games for the Auckland-based side.

Wales international

12 Johnny Williams: The centre debuted for London Irish at 18 and started the final for England just one year later. He would rack up over 50 appearances for London Irish before signing a deal to join the Newcastle Falcons, following the Exiles’ relegation in 2018. However, in 2019 Williams revealed that he had been diagnosed with testicular cancer and would take time away from the game to undergo treatment. That came shortly after he featured for an England XV in a clash against the Barbarians. A whirlwind 2020 saw him return to professional rugby in January, earn a call-up to the Wales squad in June, sign a deal with Scarlet in July and make his Test debut against Georgia in November. The five-Test Welsh international was named in Wales’ initial training squad for the World Cup.

11 Matt Gallagher: Son of 1897 World Cup-winning All Black John Gallagher, Matt started his career at Saracens and played over 40 times for the Premiership outfit. He departed the club in 2020, signing for Munster, but injuries limited his involvement with the side, playing just 13 times for the Irish province. He returned to the Premiership in 2022, signing for Bath. Gallagher signed for Benetton ahead of the 2024/25 season and was first named in the Italy squad in 2024, qualifying for Azzurri through his mother.  

Northampton Saints’ star

10 Harry Mallinder: The captain of this side enjoyed a stellar campaign and was nominated for the U20 World Rugby Player of the Year award, won by Ireland’s Max Deegan. The son of former Sale Sharks and England full-back Jim Mallinder, Harry quickly became a regular in the Northampton Saints squad. His ability to play fly-half, inside centre and full-back saw him represent the Saints more than 80 times. In July 2021, Mallinder left Northampton to pursue a playing opportunity in Japan, signing with the Black Rams Tokyo. However, he failed to make an appearance for the side before departing in 2023. He joined the NFL International Player Pathway in 2024 as a kicker/punter.

9 Max Green: A product of the Yorkshire Carnegie Academy, the scrum-half joined Bath in 2017. During his time with the club, he went on loan to Jersey Reds and had stints at Bristol. He departed the Premiership side at the end of the 2022/23 season joining Harlequins who he played for until 2024.

Premiership regulars

8 Callum Chick: The abrasive back-row joined Newcastle Falcons at the age of 12 and worked his way through the academy ranks to sign a professional contract with the club at the end of the 2014/15 season. Chick made his Test debut for England against the USA in 2021. He has played over 120 times for the Falcons and signed a new two-year deal with the club in 2023.

7 Will Evans: A breakdown specialist, Evans played four times for Leicester Tigers between 2016 and 2019 before signing a deal with Harlequins. He has become a crucial player for the Famous Quarters and helped the side with the Premiership title in 2021. He has gone on to play over 50 times for the side, and while he is yet to earn an England cap, he has earned numerous call-ups to training squads.

 6 George Nott: After starting all of England’s matches in the tournament, Nott went on to play over 30 times for the Sale Sharks and had loan spells at Chester and Fylde. In 2019, he joined London Irish and went on to make 64 appearances for the Exiles across his three seasons. The Welsh-born forward departed the Exiles ahead of the 2022/2023 season to join the Dragons.

Tight five

5 Huw Taylor: The Welsh-qualified second-row plied his trade with Worcester Warriors between 2014 and 2018, playing 27 matches for the senior team. He packed his bags for the Dragons in 2018 but was released in 2023 after 52 appearances for the side. He now plays for RGC 1404 in Wales.

4 Stan South: The lock made over 30 appearances for Harlequins before brief stints with Exeter Chiefs, Coventry, Edinburgh and Brive. In 2021, he signed with Major League Rugby team Old Glory DC.

3 Billy Walker: After stints with Bedford Blues, Saracens and Old Albanians, Walker joined Championship side Nottingham in 2018. He now plies his trade with Cambridge RUFC, who he joined in 2020.

2 Jack Singleton: Another player who has gone on to represent his country at the highest level. Singelton left Worcester Warriors after 65 appearances in 2019, signing for Saracens. He played just 15 times before Saracens were relegated for salary cap breaches, prompting a move to Gloucester, where he has stayed since 2020. During the 2023/24 season, he enjoyed a stint with Top 14 club Toulon. 

1 Lewis Boyce: The prop played over 50 times for Bath before departing the club for Championship side Ealing Trailfinders in April of 2023.

Senior internationals

Notable replacements: The bench that won the final included prop Tom West, who was a regular for Wasps before the side entered administration and is now set to turn out for Saracens next season. Bath tighthead prop Will Stuart has gone on to represent England, too, as has Bristol scrum-half Harry Randall. The rapid Ollie Thorley has become a key member of Gloucester’s team and continues to press for higher honours. Finally, flanker Jack Willis has had a tough time with injuries but recently won the Top 14 with Toulouse after joining the side following Wasps’ downfall. He is set to feature for England at the World Cup and is one of the best breakdown specialists in the game right now.

READ MORE: Where are they now? The U20 World Rugby Players of the Year

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